Google Slides is a great tool for creating presentations, but sometimes, adding a little bit of background music can elevate your presentation to the next level. Background music can help to set the tone of your presentation, and also make it more engaging and enjoyable for your audience. Unfortunately, playing music in the background of Google Slides isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. This blog post will break down the steps you need to take to add music to your Google Slides presentation.
Playing background music in Google Slides can add a new dimension to your presentation, but it does require a bit of effort. With the right approach, you can use Google Slides to design a professional-looking presentation with great-sounding music accompaniment. If you are looking to add a little extra flair to your Google Slides presentations, read on for a step-by-step guide to adding music to your slides.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
- A Google Slides presentation
- A song or audio track that you want to use as background music
- A Google Drive account or access to Google Drive
- A web browser
What Requires Your Focus?
There are a few things that you’ll need to focus on to make sure your music plays successfully in your Google Slides presentation:
- The format of the audio file needs to be compatible with Google Slides.
- You’ll need to ensure that your audio file is saved in the correct format and hosted on a platform capable of being inserted into your Google Slides presentation.
- You will need to insert the audio file at the correct time and format it correctly.
- You’ll need to test the audio in your presentation before making your presentation live.
Different Methods to Play Music In Google Slides
Method 1: Use YouTube to Play Music In Google Slides
One of the easiest ways to add background music to your Google Slides presentation is to use YouTube. Here’s how to do it:
- Locate the video you want to use on YouTube.
- Copy the video’s URL and paste it into your Google Slides presentation.
- Select the video thumbnail in your presentation.
- Click on the "Format Options" button at the top of the screen.
- Select the "Autoplay when presenting" checkbox.
- Set the video to "mute" by using the "Mute" button in the video options.
- Press play to hear the music from the video in the background.
Pros:
- This is a quick and easy method to get started with, as YouTube has a massive selection of music to choose from.
- YouTube generates an automatic thumbnail, which can be useful to make your presentation slightly more visually interesting.
Cons:
- Using a video can cause the student to be distracted by the visuals which may not relate to the content of your presentation.
- Automatically playing videos can cause distraction and be difficult for individuals who are sensitive to blinking and flashing media.
Method 2: Insert Audio From Your Google Drive Account
The second way you can add background music to your Google Slides presentation is to use audio files that you’ve saved on your Google Drive account. Here’s how to get started:
- Open the Google Slides presentation you want to add music to.
- Make sure your audio file is saved as an mp3 or .m4a file, as these are the only two formats that Google Slides supports. If your audio file is in another format, use a conversion tool to convert it.
- Upload the audio file to your Google Drive account by going to the "New" button, then "File Upload."
- Once the audio file has uploaded to Google Drive, click on it.
- Click on the "Share" button in the top right corner of your screen, then select "Advanced" at the bottom of the new pop-up window. Make sure to change the privacy settings of the file to "Anyone with the link can view."
- Copy the shareable link for the audio file, and then go back to your Google Slides presentation.
- Click on the slide where you want to add the music.
- Click on the "Insert" menu and choose "Audio."
- In the panel that appears, click "Upload" and select the audio file that you uploaded to your Google Drive account. Alternatively, you can also paste the link to the shareable file you copied earlier.
- Use the blue handles on either side of the audio track to adjust its duration as needed.
Pros:
- You will have more control over when and how your audio plays when using this method.
- You can customize the start and end times of the audio to match up perfectly with your presentation.
Cons:
- This method requires more preparation and time to prepare as you’ll need to upload an audio file to Google Drive and configure the sharing settings.
- If the audio file is not saved in the mp3 or .m4a format, you’ll need to deal with a conversion tool to convert it to the compatible format before you can use it in Google Drive.
Method 3: Insert Audio From An External Website or URL
You can also use audio files from external websites or URLs in your Google Slides presentation. This method is similar to the previous method, so here’s how it works:
- Find the audio file you want to use and obtain the URL.
- If the audio file is not in the mp3 or .m4a format, use a conversion tool to convert it to the desired format.
- Open your Google Slides presentation and select the slide where you want to add the music.
- Click on the "Insert" menu and choose "Audio."
- Paste the URL of the audio file into the box that appears.
- Adjust the settings as needed to ensure the music starts playing when you want it to.
Pros:
- This method can be useful when you need to link to an audio file that is already hosted on a website.
- It can save you time as you don’t need to upload an audio file to your Google Drive account.
Cons:
- If the website or URL hosting the audio file goes down or becomes unavailable, your audio may stop working suddenly.
- You’ll need to ensure that the audio file is in the correct format and that it starts playing at the right time in your presentation.
Why Can’t I Add Music to Google Slides?
There are a few reasons why you might be struggling to add music to your Google Slides presentation. Here are three common reasons and their potential fixes:
* is not saved in a compatible format
Google Slides only supports mp3 and .m4a audio file formats. If your audio file is saved in a different format, you’ll need to use a conversion tool to convert it. Alternatively, you can choose another audio file that’s already in a compatible format.
* is not hosted on a compatible platform
You cannot directly upload audio files to Google Slides. Instead, you need to use a compatible platform like Google Drive or YouTube to host your audio file. If your audio file is not hosted correctly, you won’t be able to add it to your presentation. Ensure that the audio file is correctly hosted to Google Drive or YouTube, and its settings allow it to be shared by anyone with the link.
You can’t see the "Audio" option in the "Insert" drop-down menu
If you can’t see the "Audio" option in the "Insert" drop-down menu, it could be because your Google Slides account isn’t updated to the latest version. Try refreshing your browser, clearing your cache, or logging in and out of your account to see if that solves the problem.
Implications and Recommendations
Adding background music to your Google Slides presentations can help to make them more engaging and exciting for your audience. Choosing the right audio file and method to add it to your presentation is important to make sure that it plays correctly and at the right times. Consider using YouTube or inserting audio files from your Google Drive account or other external websites to create a more professional and immersive experience for your audience.
5 FAQs about Playing Music in The Background Of Google Slides
Q: Can I add music to all my slides at once in Google Slides?
A: No, you need to add audio to every individual slide that you want the music to play on.
Q: How long can an audio file be in a Google Slides presentation?
A: Google Slides allows audio files to be a maximum of 100 MB and 300 seconds long.
Q: Can I add my own voice recordings as background music in Google Slides?
A: Yes, you can follow the same method to insert any mp3s that are saved on your computer or Google Drive into your Google Slides presentation.
Q: Can I add multiple audio files to one slide in Google Slides?
A: Yes, you can add multiple audio files to one slide in Google Slides, but be sure that each audio file is saved in .mp3 or .m4a format and doesn’t exceed 100 MB and 300 seconds long.
Q: Can I find royalty-free and Creative Commons licensed music for Google Slides?
A: Yes, Google Slides has partnerships with numerous audio libraries, and you can also search for royalty-free and Creative Commons licensed music online to use in your presentation. Check the license agreements and usage rights before using them in your presentation.
In Conclusion
Adding background music to your Google Slides presentation can create a professional and engaging experience for your audience. You can choose to use YouTube, Google Drive, or external websites to host your audio files. Ensure that you follow the correct procedure and format your audio file as needed. By adding background music, you can make your Google Slides presentation stand out and create a memorable experience for your audience.